The Smangus Tribe

　　The main purpose of the Smangus highland trek is to visit Taiwan’s third-largest “sacred tree.” It is a species of Taiwanese cypress, standing about 35 meters tall and with a girth of roughly 20.5 meters. Its shape resembles a candlestick, and it would take around 20 people to encircle it. The tree is estimated to be around 2,500 years old. To protect the roots of the sacred tree, a wooden platform has been built around its base.

　　Along the Smangus highland trek route, in addition to seeing ancient giant trees, visitors can also admire maple trees, cherry blossoms, bamboo groves, Hinoki cypresses, and Taiwanese cypress forests. The area features streams and rocky geological formations, making it one of Taiwan’s most precious mountain forest resources. The Smangus highland trek is a great destination for adventurous travelers.